Pound to Australian dollar exchange rates have crashed dramatically with rates falling by more than 2% to the lows of 1.75/1.76 after a brutal day in British politics. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has reached an agreement with the EU over the draft withdrawal agreement but support from her cabinet is not unanimous. So far and in a single day there were seven government resignations including Brexit Secretary Dominc Raab which sent the pound tumbling. GBP to AUD rates now face yet another volatile day as the markets prepare for more government resignations and a possible leadership challenge.

Brexit supporter and chair of the backbench European Research Group has called for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister and believes that enough letters to the 1922 Committee will be reached in the comings days to trigger a vote of no confidence. The Prime Minister must also put in place a new Brexit Secretary and it has been reported that Environment Secretary Michael Gove has turned down the offer. Where that leaves Michael Gove is less clear and many are expecting a resignation which would add more pressure on Theresa May and further weakness for the GBP to AUD pair. The outlook is so uncertain in British politics that there is room for further weakness for the pound against the Australian dollar in the short term.

The Australian dollar meanwhile has been boosted after strong employment data down under pointing to health consumer spending. A further 42,300 jobs were created in October which was significantly higher than the September reading. This will be welcome news for the Reserve Bank of Australia which has held concerns over weak wage growth and low inflation. The belief is that an improving labour market will feed through to higher wages which will allow the central bank to start raising interest rates. This is starting to look likely for 2019 with a good chance we may see the first rate hike in August next year.

There are likely to be major movements in these coming days. For assistance in making transfers either buying or selling Australian dollars then please get in touch with me James at jll@currencies.co.uk